Viloria body shot KOs Zuniga in 5

MANILA, Philippines – “The Hawaiian Punch” can still deliver a punch.

The 33-year-old Filipino-American from Waipahu, Hawaii returned to the site of his split decision loss to Juan Francisco Estrada last year to knock out Mexico’s Jose Alfredo Zuniga at the Venetian Resort in Macau, China on Saturday, July 19. The official time was 1:42. 

The former junior flyweight/flyweight champion Viloria (34-4, 20 knockouts) dropped Zuniga with a left hook to the rib cage, keeping the 25-year-old Zuniga (11-6-1, 5 KOs) on one knee until after the ten count was completed.

Viloria had some trouble early on finding the rhythm on the herky-jerky Zuniga, who had lost a 12-round majority decision to Alberto Rossel for the interim WBA 108 pound title in his most recent bout. Viloria began to cut Zuniga down by the fourth round, landing more frequently with his trademark right hand before the body work slowed him down.

Viloria has now won two straight since the Estrada defeat in April of 2013, which cost him the WBA/WBO flyweight belts. (RELATED: Brian Viloria’s five greatest nights)

Earlier in the night, Filipino junior bantamweight Mark Anthony Geraldo (31-4-3, 14 KOs) won his ninth straight bout, earning a unanimous decision over Mexico’s Efrain Perez (17-5, 12 KOs). The scores were 58-54 on two cards and 57-55 on the third. 

The Valencia City, Bukidnon, Philippines resident trains out of Manny Pacquiao’s Wild Card Gym in General Santos City. – Rappler.com